. >> still haggling over hagel. is he home free, or are republicans trying to dig up another issue before next week's vote? >> i think we're doing our job to scrutinize, i think, one of the most unqualified radical choices for secretary of defense in a very long time. >> spoiler alert. the day after downtown. the season finale that's left us all reeling and weeping. >> andrea mitchell live in washington. republican critics say they are prepared to permit a vote on chuck hagel next week, but his opponents are still digging, digging for anything that could still derail the nomination between now and then. joining me now for our daily fix, washington post columnist ruth marcus, and nbc news white house correspondent kristen welker. welcome both. first to you, ruth. you've talked -- you've written a lot about hagel and about the ted cruz fell nonnon, and all of the piling on. we now hear in the weekend interviews that there's going to be an interview and they expect it to go through, john mccain and others are going to